Four minutes from the end, the Engineer’s team lost 1-0 to Atlético de Madrid, in a key duel thinking of the fight for places in the next Champions League. The béticos are parked in the fifth position of Spanish football. Claudio Bravo was a substitute.
Thinking about a possible classification for the next Champions League, Betis he had to make a success of his visit to the Cívitas Metropolitano stadium. Manuel Pellegrini’s team had a complex challenge facing the goal of entering the highest club competition at continental level: Diego Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid. In the epilogue, when the tie was not so bad, a play off the top hat from Ángel Correa gave the hosts three points. After his participation with La Roja, Claudio Bravo was a substitute .
A new face to face between the Engineer and the Cholo, the two most successful South American coaches in Hispanic football. Before the start, the Chilean and the Argentinian greeted each other cordially but briefly. Against the rojiblancos, it was the Andalusians’ first game without Sergio Canales, one of their main assets (the one who puts his right foot in the midfield), punished by four games.
A good for both was the loss of Real Sociedad, another of the Champions League hopefuls, against Villarreal. For the same reason, a win for anyone was a big step towards the main goal they have going into the final stretch of the season.
Atlético have generally tried to be more direct when it comes to attacking, having Antoine Griezmann at his peak value, giving the team width on the opposite pitch. For their part, Pellegrini’s Betis took their time with the controlled ball, also looking for more people to join them in attack. During the first half, goal options were counted with one hand. In the case of the béticos, the Brazilian Luiz Henrique, right winger, was not sharp enough.
The closest was at 29′, with a strike from Griezmann easily controlled by Rui Silva. In the other area, Jan Oblak had a rather calm day, without much effort.
The overheated atmosphere in the stands was not compatible with a duel where each team did not show the best of its repertoire. Towards the second half, Betis stood higher up the pitch, showing a different attitude. Of course, Atlético came close to opening the scoring in the 49th minute, with a header from José María Giménez which grazed the crossbar. Then, at minute 61, a superb cover from Rui Silva prevented the Belgian Carrasco’s goal.
After the playing time, the team of the Chilean coach managed to put together a good game and Juan Miranda missed most of the clear that generated the visit, narrowly deflecting a left-footed shot. On top of all this, Betis are very sorry for the departure of Alex Moreno (transferred to Aston Villa), the starting left-back and one of the most consistent in the engineer’s era.
The second period was more like what the colchoneros and the verdiblancos had promised in the previous one, a duel with more winning than speculative intentions. In the 70s, Koke’s goal was disallowed for offside. Without showing great merits, Atleti were closer to winning it. And when the tie was stuck with glue, a genius from Ángel Correa arrived. The Argentinian gets rid of his rivals, in the box, and with a shot sends Rui Silva on the other side for Madrid 1-0.
A painful defeat for the Chileans Betis, who fail to attack in the fight for one of the places. With this result, He parks in fifth place in La Liga with 45 points, grabbing (for now) a Europa League spot. Fourth is Real Sociedad, with 48, who sit last in the Champions League. With the victory, Atlético flies third, reaching 54. Barcelona and Real Madrid, first and second, are in a particular dimension.
Next weekend, those of Heliópolis receive Cadiz, the one who is fighting for permanence. If they want to reach the Champions League, Pellegrini’s Betis can’t lose any more ‘finals’.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
